Book Review: The Jig Is Up

The Jig Is Up

• Series: An Irish Bed & Breakfast Mystery (Book One)

• Written by: Lisa Q. Mathews

• Published by: Crooked Lane Books

• Publication date: August 20, 2024

• Mystery type: Cozy mystery

Kate Buckley returns to her hometown of Shamrock, Massachusetts after receiving an urgent message from her sister Colleen. When she arrives, she finds a murdered Irish step dancer and gets drawn into the investigation to protect her sister, who may or may not have had a hand in the dancer’s death.  

The Jig is Up is the first book in a charming new cozy mystery series.

The book's super cute cover caught my eye as soon as I saw it. I also liked the title, which is very fitting given the unique Irish theme and a plot that revolves around Irish step dancing.

The story is set in the fictional town of Shamrock, Massachusetts during St. Patrick's Week festivities. Both of these angles added to the fun. However, the most interesting aspect of this series might be the Buckley family dynamics.

The amateur sleuth, Kate Buckley, is a single mom to two kids. She has a deadbeat ex-husband who moved to Ireland; a charismatic but hapless sister named Colleen; a by-the-book police officer brother; a retired police chief father who is still glued to his police scanner; a mother who runs the family bed and breakfast; and an ex-boyfriend who is also a cop. When Kate's family needs something, she drops everything and upsets the apple cart to rescue them.

So, when Colleen says she needs her sister, Kate does her part and comes running. Shenanigans commence. 

There is a big family secret that is teased throughout the book. It feels almost as big as the murder mystery itself, which is well-constructed. You'll have to stay on your toes and pay close attention to the clues to solve this one before the sleuth. It's a stumper. And you'll need the luck of the Irish to guess that bombshell family secret!

The Jig Is Up is a page-turner. Lisa Q. Mathews clearly has a knack for plotting mystery series and stories. I thoroughly enjoyed this new cozy entry and look forward to reading anything else she decides to write in the mystery realm, including more from this series.

Buried in Shamrocks, book two in the Irish Bed & Breakfast Mystery series, will be out in 2025.

Disclosures: I received an advanced reader copy of The Jig Is Up from Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books. Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. Cozy Crime Reads may earn a commission at no cost to you if you make a purchase after clicking on the affiliate links.